On Monday, the European Commission officially approved a partial exemption from fallowing rules for farmers under specific conditions, as part of efforts to address the challenges facing the agricultural sector.
The relaxations, as stated in the announcement, take into account not only the needs of farmers but also the need to protect biodiversity and soil quality.
The regulation adopted by the Commission, following a relevant proposal presented on January 31, gives farmers the option, instead of keeping 4% of their arable land fallow, to utilize this land for nitrogen-fixing crops (such as lentils, peas, or beans), or intermediate crops without the use of plant protection products. Under these conditions, farmers who choose to cultivate this percentage of land will be considered to meet the so-called GAEC 8 requirements.
The text also allows member states to amend their ecological plans to support non-productive areas based on the exemptions provided above, through a simple notification to the European Commission within 15 days of the regulation’s entry into force.
The regulation comes into effect on Wednesday, February 14, and will apply retroactively for one year from January 1 until the end of 2024.
“We will soon present more proposals to help alleviate the pressure our farmers are facing,” said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a written statement.
“This measure offers flexibility to farmers while continuing to reward them for their crucial work in promoting food security and EU sustainability,” she added.